Z5# 


G-eoree  ■Tasliiri'^ton  Dome 


The  Lord,  The  Helper  of 
of  his  People:   The 
Sermon  at  the  Con- 
secration of  3t.  Mary's 
Church,  in  the  citv  of 
3urlington,  Dec.  23,  1834 


BX5920 
.B96S5 
D6 


r:..  -  ff^- 


I  beseech  you  therefore,  brethi%i, 
by  the  mercies  of  God,  that  ye 
present  your  bodies  a  Hving  sa- 
crifice, holy,  acceptable  to  God, 
which  is  your  reasonable  service. 
And  be  not  conformed  to  this 
world ;  but  be  ye  transformed  by 
the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that 
ye  may  prove  what  is  that  good,  and 
acceptable,  and  perfect  will  of  God. 


mxt  aottr,  til?  Jktlptv  ot  ills  iJ^opU. 


" THE  SPIRITUAL  FABKIC  OF  THE  CHURCH, 

FOUNDED  IX  truth;    BT  THE  BLOOD  OF  MARTYIlDOIVf 

cemented;  by  the  hand  of  wisdom  reared 
in  beauty  of  holiness,  with  ordered  pomp 
decent  and  unreproved. " 


THE  LORD,  THE  HELPER  OF  HIS  PEOPLE 


JThe  Sermon 


AT  THE  CONSECRATION 

OF 

ST.  MARY'S  CHURCH,  IN  THE  CITY  OF  BURLINGTON, 

DECEMBER  23,  1834 ; 


y 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON  DOANE,  D.  D. 

BISHOP  OF  THE  DIOCESE  OF  NEW  JERSEY, 
AND  RECTOR  OF  ST.  MARY'S  CHURCH. 


PIIIYATK   IMPHESSIoy. 


J.L.POWELL: 

AT    THE    MISSIONARY    PRFSS, 

BURLIXGTON,  X.  J. 

51  IICCC  tXXI  V. 


"XET  WILL  WE  NOT  COKCEAL  THE  PRECIOUS  CROSS, 
LIKE  MEN  ASHAMED  ;    THE  SUN,  WITH  HIS  FIRST  SMILE, 
SHALL  GREET  THAT  SYMBOL  CROWNING  THE  LOW  PILE; 
AND  THE  FRESH  AIR  OF  '  INCENSE-BREATHING  MORN  ' 
SHALL  WOOINGLY  EMBRACE  IT;    AND  GREEN  MOSS 
CREEP  ROUND  ITS  ARMS  THROUGH  CENTURIES  UNBORN." 


TO 

•  THE  pahishioners  of  ST.  mart's  church, 

nETXTRiriXG  TO  THE  HOLT  HOUSE  IX  WHICH  THEIR  FATHERS  WORSHIPPED, 

EBTLARGED,  IMPROVED,  AND  BEAUTIFIED, 

THE    RECTOR 

OFFERS  HIS  MOST  HEARTT  COIfGRATULATIOXS  ; 

AND  MOST  DEVOUTI.T  PRATS 

THAT  THET, 

AS  LIVING  STONES, 

MAT   BE   BUILT  UP,  A  SPIRITUAL  HOUSE, 

ACCEPTABLE  TO  GOD, 

BT  JESUS  CHRIST. 

BUIILINGTON,  CHRISTMAS  DAT,  MDCCCXXXIV. 


O  Almighty  God,  who  hast  built 

THY  CHURCH  UPON  THE  FOUNDATION 
OP      THE     APOSTLES     AND     PROPHETS, 

Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the 
HEAD  corner-stone;  grant  us  so 

TO  BE  joined  together  IN  UNITY 
OP  spirit  BY  THEIR  DOCTRINE,  THAT 

we  may  be  made  an  holy  temple 
acceptable  unto  thee,  through 
Jesus   Christ  our   lord.     Amen. 


SERMON 


I  SAMUEL  VII.  12. 
HITHERTO  HATH  THE  LORD  HELPED  US. 

It  was  the  pious  custom  of  patriarchs  and  saints  of  old  to  mark, 
by  solemn  ceremonies  and  enduring  monuments,  the  merciful  in- 
terpositions, which  God  was  pleased  to  manifest  in  their  behalf. 
When  Jacob,  fleeing  to  Padan  Aram,  from  the  wrath  of  Esau,  be- 
held in  his  sleep  a  vision  of  angels,  and  received  the  blessing  and 
promise  of  God,  he  set  up  a  pillar  on  the  place  where  he  had 
rested,  and  poured  oil  upon  the  top  of  it,  and  called  the  name  of 
the  place,  Beth-el, — the  house  of  God.*  When  the  children  of 
Israel,  on  their  way  to  the  land  of  promise,  had  passed  over 
Jordan  with  the  ark  of  the  Lord,  Joshua  commanded  them  to  set 
up  twelve  stones  in  the  midst  of  the  river,  as  a  memorial  of  th^ir 
miraculous  passage,  through  the  divided  waters.!  And  Samuel,  in 
like  manner,  when  the  Philistines,  drawing  near  to  battle  against 
Israel  had  been  smitten  with  thunder,  and  discomfited,  took  a  stone, 
and  set  it  up  and  called  the  name  of  it  Eben-ezer, — the  stone  of 
help;  saying,  in  the  words  which  have  been  chosen  for  the  text, 
♦'  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us."| — It  was  a  pious,  and  a  pro- 
fitable usage,  and  it  well  deserves  more  frequent  imitations  than  it 
finds.  Such  is  the  coldness  and  ingratitude  of  men,  that  the  very 
frequency  of  God's  blessings  leads  to  forgetfulness  and  disregard 
of  him.  And,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  when  we  have  described 
his  merciful  providence,  as  ever  present  and  never  failing,  we  have 


*  Genesis  xxviii.  19.     f  Joshua  iv.  9.     \\  Samuel  vii.  12. 


8 

« 

named  the  very  causes  of  its  being  so  little  valued,  and  so  sparing- 
ly acknowledged.  Do  we  not  well  then,  Christian  brethren,  to 
multiply  the  occasions  which,  as  it  were,  may  tempt  us  to  these 
grateful  tributes  of  the  heart  to  its  divine  Creator  and  Preserver, — 
to  set  up  our  stones  of  help  on  every  resting-place  along  our  mortal 
pilgrimage, — and  to  confess,  at  every  such  renewal  of  his  mercies, 
his  preservations,  his  deliverances,  "  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped 
us?"  Acknowledge  it,  or  not,  my  brethren,  there  is  no  other  help 
on  which  we  can  rely.  As  his  alone  is  the  wisdom  to  guide  us  in 
all  trials,  and  the  power  to  sustain  us  under  every  trouble,  so  is  he, 
by  that  merciful  goodness  which  transcends  even  his  wisdom  and 
his  power,  an  ever-present,  and  ever-willing  help  in  every  time  of 
need.  "  He  ruleth  according  to  his  will  in  the  armies  of  heaven,  and 
among  the  inhabitants  of  earth;"  and  whether  it  be  an  empire  that 
is  overthrown,  or  a  poor  sparrow*  that  falls  unnoticed  to  the  ground, 
it  is  all  by  his  permission,  and  for  the  furtherance  of  his  divine  and 
blessed  purposes. 

But  it  is  in  the  preserving  and  extending  of  his  Church,  that 
God's  good  providence  is  chiefly  shown,  and  in  acknowledging  the 
mercies  which  she  has  received,  and  the  protection  which  she  en- 
joys, that  the  devout  expression  of  the  text  may  most  emphatically 
be  made,  "  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us  !"  From  the  date  of 
the  first  promise  of  redemption,  by  the  woman's  holy  seed,  God  has 
never  ceased  to  call  from  the  world  those,  who,  by  the  profession 
of  faith  in  him,  and  the  practice  of  obedience  to  his  laws,  have  ap- 
proved themselves  his  followers  on  earth,  and  have  his  assurance 
that  they  shall  be  found  among  his  blessed  ones  in  heaven.  These 
constitute  that  company,  to  whom  it  is  our  prayer  and  hope  to  be 
hereafter;  joined  coming,  in  the  glowing  language  of  St.  Paul, 
"  unto  Mount  Sion,  and  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the  heav- 


•  St.  Matthew  x.  29. 


9 

cnly  Jerusalem,  to  the  general  assembly  and  Church  of  the  first 
born,  which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect."*  Through  what  vicissitudes  hath  this  blessed  com- 
pany of  faithful  men  been  led  !  What  watchful  care  has  guided,  and 
what  tender  love  preserved,  this  precious  Church  of  the  first  born  ! 
In  the  rude  patriarchal  tent,  and  by  the  simple  household  sacrifice. 
He  was  with  it,  to  guard  it  from  idolatry  and  the  corruption  of  the 
wicked  world.  In  the  ark.  he  snatched  it  from  the  swift  destruction, 
which  the  whole  human  family  beside,  corrupting  their  way  before 
the  Lord,  brought  down  upon  themselves.  In  the  prison  house  of 
Egypt,  amid  the  raging  billows  of  the  affrighted  sea,  through  all 
that  vast  and  howling  wilderness.  He  was  its  deliverer,  its  protector 
and  its  guide.  In  due  time,  the  Lamb  of  God,  slain  in  the  counsels  of 
the  Godhead,  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,t  was  clothed  in 
human  flesh,  and  died  for  human  sin.  It  was  then  that  the  Church 
of  God,  dimly  descried  before  amid  the  clouds  and  shadows  of 
the  elder  dispensation,  being  purchased  with  his  blood,  and  built 
upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles  and  prophets,  the  divine  Sa- 
viour himself  being  the  chief  corner  stone,  was  established  in 
celestial  strength  and  matchless  beauty,— its  lights  and  aids  and 
consolations  freely  offered  to  all  who  need,  and  the  promise  of  Him, 
whose  word  can  never  fail,  recorded,  that  "  the  gates  of  hell  shall 
not  prevail  against  it."  Since  that  time,  the  tempest  and  the  storm 
have  beat  upon  it,  the  flood  and  fire  have  raged  around  it,  but  its 
foundation  is  not  shaken.  Insidious  foes  have  entered  in  and 
sought  to  undermine  it,— false  friends  have  aimed  at  compromise 

of  its  high  interests  with  the  pleasures  or  the  riches  of  the  world, 

its  simple  faith  has  been  perplexed  and  darkened  by  the  cloudy 
speculations  of  them  who  would  be  wise  above  what  God  has  writ- 
ten,—and  its   pure    worship  has  been  mingled   with  unmeaning 

*  Hebrews  xii.  22,  23.  f  Revelation  xiii,  8. 

2 


10 

rites,  or  stripped  of  that  decent  beauty  which  becomes  the  sanctuary 
of  the  God  of  heaven.     Still,  God  hath  not  left  himself  without  a 
witness,  nor  his  Church  without  protection.     The   fold,  which 
Peter  opened  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  for  all  that  would  repent  and 
be  baptized  in  the  name  of  Jesus  for  the  remission  of  their  sins,* 
still  opens  wide  its  gates  to  all  the  sons  of  men.     And,  owning,  in 
the  solid  strength  and  fair  proportions  of  that  peaceful  house  in 
which  we  worship,  in  this  new,  and  then  undreamed-of  land,  the 
same  foundation  which  Apostles  laid,  and  the  same  structure  which 
Apostles  built,  can  we  fail,  dear  brethren,  to  acknowledge  with  de- 
vout and  fervent  gratitude,  "  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us !" 
If  we   continue  faithful,  the   same  Lord  will  help  us  still.     The 
kingdoms  of  this  world  are  all  to  be  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and 
of  his  Christ.t  In  every  place  incense  is  to  be  offered  unto  his  name, 
and  a  pure  offering.|     The  Church  of  Christ  is  that  blessed  sacra- 
mental host,  armed  with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  going  on  to 
conquer  in  the  strength  of  the  Redeemer,  by  which  the  kingdoms 
of  the  earth  are  all  to  be  subdued.     The  Church  of  Christ  is  that 
vast  temple,  built  on  the  rock  of  ages,  extending  from  kingdom  to 
kingdom  its  peaceful  precincts,  embracing  in  its  sacred  courts  kin- 
dred after  kindred,  and  people  after  people,  in  which  incense  is  to 
be  offered  unto  his  name,  and  a  pure  offering.     And  when  all  this 
shall  be  accomplished,  what  shall  then  remain  ?     The  earthly  tem- 
ple, needed  no  more,  shall  be  removed.     The  Church  militant  on 
earth  shall  become  the  Church  triumphant  in  heaven.     The  Lord 
God  Almighty  and  the  Lamb  shall  be  the  temple  of  it.     The  na- 
tions of  them  which  are  saved  shall  walk  in  the  light  of  it.     The 
Lord  God  shall  give  them  light,  and  they  shall  reign  for  ever  and 
ever.§     "  Blessed  are  they  that  do  his  commandments,  that  they 


*  Acts  ii,  38.         ■}-  Revelation  xi,  15.         t  Malachi  i,  11. 
§  Revelation  xxi,  22 — 24. 


11 

may  have  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  enter  in  through  the  gates 
into  the  city."*  **  He  which  testifieth  these  things  saith,  Surely,  I 
come  quickly.  Amen.  Even  so,  come.  Lord  Jesus. "t  Blessed 
Lord,  who  hitherto  hast  helped  us,  help  us  still  unto  the  end,  that 
in  thy  coming  we  may  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory ! 

From  us,  brethren  of  this  congregation,  the  transaction  of  the 
day  calls  for  a  special  tribute  of  gratitude  and  praise.  Returning 
now  from  our  brief  exile  to  this  venerable  place,  where,  for  an 
hundred  and  thirty  years,^  prayers  have  been  made,  through  Christ, 
to  God, — assembled  under  circumstances,  so  much  improved,  of 
comfort  to  ourselves,  and  of  accommodation  to  such  as  may  desire 
to  join  us, — does  it  not  become  us,  like  the  prophet,  to  setup  here, 
our  stone  of  help,  and  to  confess,  with  a  loud  voice  and  glowing 
heart,  that  *'  hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  us?"  To  us  this  is  a 
most  eventful  day — a  day,  whose  issues,  grasping  all  the  circuit  of 
our  lives,  reach  forth  into  eternity.  Here,  for  a  century  and  a 
quarter,  the  prayers  and  praises  of  the  faithful  have  arisen  to 
heaven,  till  even  the  ground  on  which  we  stand  seems  consecrated, 
and,  to  our  awed  and  captivated  spirits,  "  all  the  air  a  solemn  still- 
ness holds."  Here  have  your  feet,  week  after  week,  come  up, 
*'  with  the  voice  of  them  that  keep  holy  day;"  and,  in  your  hearts, 
and  in  the  hearts  of  all  your  children,  it  must  be  associated  with 
what  is  best  and  happiest  of  the  things  and  thoughts  of  earth,  with 
what  is  brightest  with  the  light,  and  fullest  of  the  hopes  of  heaven. 
Here  you  have  prayed,  that  still  your  feet  might  come,  while  they 
should  tread  the  paths  of  earth,  and  that  when  you  were  gone  hence 
and  were  no  more  seen,  your  children,  and  your  children's  chil- 
dren, might  fill  the  seats  which  you  fill,  imbibe  the  wisdom  which 


*  Revelation  xxii,  14.         •}-  20. 

t  The  service  was  perfonned  first  in  St.  Mary's  Church,  on  Whitsunday,  1704. 


12 

has  guided  you  through  life,  and  catch  the  glorious  hope  which  is 
to  give  you  victory  in  death.  Avi^akening  reminiscences  and  prompt- 
ing thoughts  like  these,  is  it  not,  brethren,  a  solemn  and  eventful 
hour  ?  Surrounded  by  such  circumstances,  and  such  associations, — 
the  memory  and  example  of  the  beloved  dead,  the  looks  and  voices 
of  the  beloved  living,  the  deep  and  strong  impression  of  His  pre- 
sence who  has  now  accepted  this  to  be  his  temple, — must  we  not 
feel  that  this  indeed  is  "holy  ground?"  While  then  the  inspira- 
tion of  the  hour  is  on  us,  while  we  breathe  for  the  first  time  the 
religion  of  the  place,  let  us  desire  of  Him,  from  whom  alone  all 
good  things  come,  to  make  both  profitable  and  permanent  the 
impressions  which  we  now  receive.  This  hour,  this  day,  cannot 
return  to  us  again.  This  place  can  no  more  be  to  us  what  it  is 
this  day,  this  hour.  We  stand  upon  an  isthmus.  The  waves  of 
time  divide  beneath  our  feet.  We  can  look  back  on  all  the  past. 
We  can  look  forward  to  the  distant,  pregnant  future.  Let  us  not 
lose  the  golden  opportunity.  Let  us  look  backward,  and  look  for- 
ward. With  fervent  gratitude  to  Him  who  hitherto  has  helped  us, 
with  lively  confidence  in  the  continued  exercise  of  his  protecting 
care,  we  may  present  acceptably,  through  Jesus  Christ,  the  free 
will  offering  of  a  holy  worship ;  and  win,  through  his  most  precious 
merits,  for  us  and  for  our  children,  the  blessing  promised  to  the 
faithful,  "  even  life  forevermore." 

It  is  now  more  than  one  hundred  and  thirty  years  since  the  mea- 
sures were  adopted  which  led  to  the  erection  of  the  Church,  which, 
enlarged  now  for  the  fourth  time,  to  meet  the  increasing  disposition 
to  entertain  the  doctrines  here  professed,  and  to  unite  in  the  wor- 
ship here  offered,  has  to  day,  with  due  solemnities,  been  set  apart 
for  the  service  and  glory  of  God.  The  early  history  of  these  most 
laudable  endeavours  is  full  of  interest ;  and  eloquent,  at  every  step, 
from  the  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  two,  until  this  pre- 
sent day,  in  illustrating  and  enforcing  the  sentiment  of  the  text, 


13 

*♦  hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  us."  "  The  first  English  inhabitants 
of  this  country,"  says  an  old  and  authentic  writer,*  *'  were  Quakers 
and  Anabaptists.     In  the  year  1702  the  Rev.  Mr.  Keith  and  the 
Rev.  Mr  Talbot  were  travelling  preachers  in  these  countries,  from 
the  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts;  and 
as  the  sober  Quakers  of  New  Jersey  agreed  with  many  of  their 
brethren  at  Philadelphia,  in  thinking  that  the  written  word  of  God, 
and  the  instituted  means  of  grace  ought  to  be  more  attended  to,  they 
were  induced,  by  hearing  some  sermons  from  Mr.  Keith  and  Mr. 
Talbot,  to  enquire  what  was  the  doctrine  of  the  Church  of  England. 
In  a  little  time  a  considerable  congregation  gathered  themselves  to- 
gether, resolving  to  receive  the  Church  of  England  worship.t     As 
the  people  had  agreed  to  conform  with  the  Church  of  England, 
their  next  care  was  to  get  a  Minister.     They  had  heard  Mr.  Keith 
and  Mr.  Talbot  often  preach,  and  the  latter  was  particularly  ac- 
ceptable to  many  of  them.     Mr.  Talbot  was  also  desirous  to  em- 
ploy his  labours  in  this  country,  rather  than  in  any  other  place. 
They  invited  him  to  stay  with  them,  and  sent  over  a  request  to  the 
Bishop  of  London,  and  to  the  Society,  desiring  that  he  might  be 
settled  among  them,  which  was  granted."— "  The  people  soon  be- 
gan to  set  about  building  a  Church.     The  Church  of  St.  Mary," 
(called  in  the  first  charter  St.  Ann's)  "had  its  foundation  stone  laid 
in  1703,  on  the  25th  of  March,"  (the  festival  of  the  Annunciation  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin,)  "and  was  therefore  named  St.  Mary's.:|:    The 


*  The  authority  here  referred  to  is  the  Rev.  Dr.  Humphreys,  Secretary  to  the 
Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  in  his  "Historical 
Account"  of  the  Society. 

f  "  There  were  several  gentlemen  of  considerable  interest  in  this  country,  who 
had  been  educated  in  the  Church  of  England;  particularly  Colonel  Cox,  then 
of  her  Majesty's  Council  there,  Colonel  Quarry,  Colonel  Morris,  and  Mr.  Jere- 
miah Bass;  they  all  encouraged  this  disposition  of  the  people,  and  numbers  fell 
off  from  Quakerism  daily." — Humphreys^  Historical  Account,  p.  183. 

+  In  the  Parish  Register  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  on  the  inside  of  the  first  cover, 


14 

building  was  carried  on  with  that  zeal  and  vigour,  that  on  Whit- 
sunday in  1704,  divine  service  was  performed,  and  the  sacrament 
administered  in  it  to  a  large  congregation."  Such  was  the  first  be- 
ginning of  St.  Mary's  Church.  In  its  material  structure  it  must 
have  been  a  building  of  the  width  of  the  old  edifice,  and  nearly 
square.  As  a  religious  society  it  had  vigorous  existence  and  a 
good  degree  of  increase  under  its  first  Minister,  who  served  before 
its  altars  five  and  twenty  years,  and  is  described  by  his  contempo- 
raries as  "a  very  zealous  and  industrious  man."* — In  1761,  the 
Rev.  Colin  Campbell,  then  the  Society's  Missionary  at  Burlington, 
and  visiting  occasionally  Mount  Holly  and  Bristol,  reports,  in  the 
three  places,  seventy-four  baptisms  and  fifty  communicants.  His 
ministry  in  Burlington  covered  a  period  of  nine  and  twenty  years ; 


is  the  following  record,  in  the  hand  writing  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Odell.  "  Memorandum. 
This  Church  was  called  St.  Ann's  (in  the  first  charter,  granted  Oct.  4,  1 704,  by 
Lord  Cornbury,)  after  the  name  of  the  Queen ;  but  when  a  more  ample  charter 
was  granted  in  1709,  June  25th,  by  Lieut.  Governor  Ingoldsby,  the  Church  was 
called  St.  Mary's,  and  so  continued  to  be  denominated,  on  account  of  its  first 
foundation  stone  having  been  laid  on  the  25th  of  March,  which  was  in  1703; 
but  this,  it  seems,  was  not  adverted  to  till  afterwards. 

JoiT,  Odell. 
April  7, 1768." 

It  is  to  the  first  named  charter,  that  Dr.  Humphreys  alludes  in  the  following 
passage : 

"  A  burying  place  of  three  acres  was  purchased  soon  after,  and  well  fenced  in : 
and  the  Lord  Cornbury,  then  Governor  of  this  province  and  New  York,  upon 
application  made  to  him  by  the  members  of  the  Church,  made  them  a  body  incor- 
porate, with  all  powers  and  privileges  requisite." — Humphreys^  Historical  Ac- 
count, p.  183. 

*  So  says  Humphreys'  "  Historical  Account,"  p.  184.  In  the  abstract  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  venerable  Society,  for  1720, 1  find  the  following  honourable 
testimony  to  his  fidelity  and  worth.  "  From  the  Chiu*ch  Wardens  and  Vestry  of 
Burlington  in  New  Jersey, — that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Talbot,  by  whose  mission  they  now 
received  inexpressible  benefit,  has  by  his  unfeigned  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  good  of  his  Church,  by  his  exemplary  piety  and  sober  life  and  conversation, 
much  adorned  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ."  Mr.  Talbot 
seems  to  have  possessed  the  true  Missionary  Spirit, — "crossing  the  water  fre- 
quently, to  preach  and  perform  other  ministerial  oflices  at  Bristol,  (then  New 
Bristol,)  and  often  visiting  Hopewell  and  Maidenhead." 


15 

towards  the  close  of  which,  in  1763,  he  reports  no  less  than  115 
baptisms,  and  in  his  three  congregations  50  persons  added  to  the 
communion  ;  and  assures  the  Society  that  the  people  of  his  Mission 
are  sincere,  hearty  and  religious,  with  whom  he  has  always  lived 
in  the  greatest  harmony.* — In  1769,  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  Odell,  who  was  nine  years  in  charge  of  the  parish,  the 
building  was  extended  westward,  with  the  addition  of  a  gallery ,t — 
and  this,  although  the  town  itself  had  increased  but  little,  if  at  all; 
*'  on  account,"  as  Mr.  Campbell  states  in  hjs  report,  in  1763,  "of 
some  disadvantages   in  their  situation  in  regard   to  trade,  which 


*  In  1752,  he  had  written  to  the  Society,  that  "  mutual  love  and  harmony  sub- 
sist between  him  and  his  people,  which,  under  God,  is  his  great  comfort."  He- 
appears  to  have  been  a  wise  as  well  as  a  devout  man.  In  his  letter  dated  De- 
cember 26,  1761,  he  laments  that  "his  congregational  Mount  Holly,  which  was 
very  flourishing,  has  been  hurt  by  some  enthusiastical  people  of  Mr.  Maclena- 
ghan's  party,  who  pretend  that  Mr.  Maclenaghan  is  the  only  preacher  of  Christ 
in  America,  and  all  the  rest  are  Armenians,  &c.  &c.  Mr.  Campbell  however 
hopes  to  give  a  better  account  of  these  people  when  the  fiery  heat  of  their  pre- 
cipitate rashness  subsides ;  in  the  meantime  will  study  to  be  quiet,  and  mind  his 
oiun  business,  and  leave  the  event  to  God^  His  prudent  determination  did  not 
disappoint  the  Christian  hope  in  which  it  was  adopted.  In  another  letter  dated 
June  25, 1762,  Mr.  Campbell  "with  pleasm-e  acquaints  the  Society,  that  his  stray- 
ing sheep,  who  ran  after  Mr.  Maclenaghan's  party,  are  by  the  blessing  of  God  on 
his  endeavours,  reduced  to  a  sense  of  their  sin  in  a  causeless  separation,  and  are 
returning  daily  to  their  proper  fold."     So  will  the  patient  confidence  in  God  of 

them  who  study  to  be  quiet,  and  mind  their  owti  business,  ever  be  rewarded. 

From  the  report  in  1763,  alluded  to  above,  it  appears  that  Mr.  Campbell  enjoyed 
the  blessing  of  peace  with  them  that  were  without,  as  well  as  with  his  own  peo- 
ple.    His  several  congregations,  he  says,  were  peaceable  with  one  another,  as 

■well  as  -with  those  -who  dissent  from  them,  and    all  in  an  increasing  way." 

Such  will  commonly  be  the  result  when  ministers  and  people  pursue  with 
firmness,  though  in  meekness,  what  they  beUeve  to  be  the  path  of  truth  and  duty; 
studying  to  be  quiet,  and  to  mind  their  own  business.  It  is  when  they  strive  to  walk 
together,  who  are  not  agreed,  that  Christian  peace  and  love  are  most  in  danger. 

f  "  The  Society  is  informed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Odell,  that  the  Church  at  Bur- 
lington is  completed,  and  is  not  only  a  comfortable  building,  but  an  ornament  to 
the  place,  being  63  feet  by  33.  Governor  Franklin  was  very  liberal  on  the  occa- 
sion, and  his  lady  has  made  them  a  present  of  a  very  rich  and  elegant  furniture 
for  the  pul  pitdesk  and  table." — These  hangings  are  still  in  excellent  preservation,, 
and  fully  justify  the  praise  bestowed  on  them  in  the  report. 


16 

oblige  the  young  people  to  remove  to  other  parts."* — In  1811,  under 
the  ministry  of  its  late  beloved  and  lamented  Rector,  the  Church 
was  enlarged,  improved  and  beautified,  by  an  extension  eastward, 
includino-  the  late  chancel ;  at  which  time  also  the  pulpit  was  remov- 
ed  from  the  side  to  the  east  end.t— In  1821,  there  being  still  a  call 
for  pews,  the  sittings  in  the  Church,  and  its  general  convenience 
were  much  increased  by  the  removal  of  the  door,  then  placed  just 
where  I  stand,  to  the  west  end ;  with  other  alterations,  all  eminent- 
ly judicious. — Finally,  by  the  good  hand  of  God  upon  us  still,  pros- 
pering with  increase  the  blessed  seed  of  his  most  holy  word,  it 
was  deemed  necessary,  in  the  month  of  September  last,|  and  then 


*  In  the  Report  of  the  Society's  proceedings  for  1773,  there  is  a  passage,  which, 
while  it  shows  how  literally  that  was  "  the  day  of  small  things,"  presents  the 
Missionary  in  a  highly  favourable  light.  "  The  Rev.  Mr.  Odell,  who  generously 
declined  the  intended  contribution  of  his  congregation  at  Burlington,  until  the 
debt  contracted  by  rebuilding  their  Church  should  be  discharged,  acquaints  the 
Society  that  this  event  hath  taken  place,  and  that  the  Vestry  have  now  agreed  to 
pay  him  for  the  future  £30  currency,  nearly  equal  to  £19  sterling  a  year.  The 
people  at  Mount  Holly  have  been  punctual  in  their  payment  of  £26  currency,  so 
that  the  whole  Mission  annually  contributes  about  £35  sterling.  [The  Society 
paid  £50  sterling.]  He  is  in  hopes  of  prevaiUng  with  his  people  to  raise  a  sura 
of  money  among  themselves,  which,  though  but  £100,  might  be  put  out  to  in- 
terest, and  by  accumulating  would  in  time  amount  to  such  a  sum  as  would  sup- 
port their  minister  with  less  assistance  from  the  Society." 

j-  The  cost  of  this  alteration  was  more  than  thirteen  hundred  dollars. 

:}:  The  resolution  was  adopted,  September  3, 1834,  in  these  words:  "Resolved, 
that  Christian  Larzelere,  Wm.  McMurtrie,  (Wardens,)  Jacob  Shedaker,  Daniel 
Hancock,  and  James  Hunter  Sterling,  with  the  Rt.  Rev.  Rector,  be  a  Committee 
to  inquire  and  report  at  a  future  meeting  of  the  Vestry  what  alterations  can  be 
made  in  the  Church,  whereby  its  revenues  may  be  augmented,  its  appearance  im- 
proved, its  convenience  increased,  and  its  usefulness  extended."  The  plan  re- 
ported by  the  Committee  was,  on  the  26th  day  of  September,  approved  and  accept- 
ed by  the  Vestry ;  and  John  Larzelere,  Edward  Rogers,  and  William  McMurtrie 
appointed  the  Building  Committee.  A  contract  was  entered  into  with  Mr. 
Isaac  Holden,  Architect,  of  Philadelphia,  for  the  execution  of  the  plan  designed 
by  him,  reported  by  the  Committee,  and  approved  by  the  Vestry.  On  the  6th 
day  of  October  the  work  was  commenced — and  on  Tuesday,  December  23, 
the  building  was  consecrated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the 
provisions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 


17 

determined  by  the  Vestry  of  this  Church,  to  make  such  alterations, 
as  should  "  augment  its  revenues,"  "  improve  its  appearance," 
"increase  its  convenience,"  and  "extend  its  usefulness."  Of  the 
result  of  this  resolution,  so  far  at  least  as  increase  of  convenience 
is  concerned,  you,  friends  and  brethren,  are  witnesses  to-day.  That,  * 
when  completely  finished,  its  appearance  will  be  much  improved, 
you  can  yourselves  well  judge.  The  extension  of  its  usefulness 
must  be  sought  for  by  us  of  the  Lord,  who  hitherto  has  helped  us  ; 
and  will  be  found,  if  we  are  faithful  to  our  holy  trust,  in  the  results 
of  his  blessing  upon  our  prayers,  our  efforts  and  our  sacrifices. 

Brethren  of  this  congregation,  does  it  not  become  us  well  to  say 
that  hitherto  the  Lord  has  helped  us  ?  Run  back  in  fancy  to  the 
second  year  of  the  last  century.  See  the  little  band  of  faithful  fol- 
lowers of  Christ,  consulting  and  contriving,  day  after  day,  and 
night  after  night,  how  they  shall  rear  a  temple  for  the  worship  of 
their  God  and  Saviour,  in  the  way  their  understanding  has  adopted, 
and  their  hearts  approve.  See  them,  with  difficulty,  at  great  haz- 
ard, and  with  great  self-sacrifice,  compass  the  erection  of  a  plain  and 
humble  edifice  of  thirty  feet  in  breadth,  by,  perhaps,  forty  feet  in 
length.  Hear  them  commended  by  the  historian  of  their  labours, 
for  their  zeal  and  vigour  in  accomplishing  in  fifteen  months  a  work 
of  smaller  moment  than  our  eyes  have  seen  effected  in  less  than  as 
many  weeks.  Behold  them,  on  the  joyous  festival  of  Whitsun- 
day, assembled  in  their  simple  house  of  prayer,  and  pouring  out 
from  hearts  that  overflowed  with  gratitude  and  joy,  the  exulting 
strains  which  still,  taught  by  the  Church,  that  holy  season  puts  in 
all  our  mouths, — "Great  is  the  Lord,  and  highly  to  be  praised  in  the 
city  of  our  God,  even  upon  his  holy  hill, — the  hill  of  Sion  is  a  fair 
place,  and  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,  upon  the  north  side  lieth  the 
city  of  the  great  King  ;  God  is  well  known  in  her  palaces  for  a  sure 
refuge, — like  as  we  have  heard,  so  have  we  seen,  in  the  city  of  the 

Lord  of  hosts,  in  the  city  of  our  God;  God   upholdeth  the  same 
3 


i8 

forever, — walk  about  Sion,  and  go  round  about  her,  and  tell  the 
towers  thereof, — mark  well  her  bulwarks,  set  up  her  houses,  that  ye 
may  tell  them  that  come  after,— for  this  God  is  our  God  forever,  he 
shall  be  our  guide  unto  death."*  Follow  their  self-denying  and  labo- 
rious Missionary,  "on  the  verge  of  sixty,  and  greatly  weakened  by 
an  inflammatory  fever,"t  toiling  his  weary  way  from  Burlington  to 
Bristol,  and  from  Bristol  to  Mount  Holly,  to  tend  and  feed  his 
Master's  scattered  sheep.  Run  down  the  lapse  of  years,  and  see 
the  humble  fold  extending  westward,  and  then  eastward,  and  en- 
larged with  all  economy  and  skill,  that  it  may  meet  the  wants  of 
anxious  souls,  and  shelter  from  the  howling  storm  the  Saviour's 
flock.  Rehearse  the  names  of  noble  benefactors,  who,  in  a  far  off 
land,  gave  freely  of  their  gold,  to  nurse  and  cherish  this  remote  and 
feeble  congregation  of  God's  people, — the  Lady  Catharine  Bovey, 
the  generous  Thomas  Leicester,  the  Bishops  Frampton,  of  Glouces- 
ter, and  Compton,  of  London,  and  her  Royal  Majesty,  Queen  Anne,— 
so  that  we  may  literally  use  the  prophecy  of  Scripture,  that  a  Queen 
has  been  its  nursing  mother.^     Observe  the  memorable  fact  that  of 


*  Psalm  48,  one  of  those  which  are  appointed  for  Whitsunday,  and  which  must 
have  been  part  of  the  first  service  in  St.  Mary's  Church. 

•j-In  1763,  Mr.  Campbell  writes,  that  "being  now  on  the  verge  of  60,  and 
greatly  weakened  by  an  inflammatory  fever,  whieh  settled  in  his  thigh,  and  con- 
fined him  all  the  month  of  January,  he  finds  he  cannot  perform  his  duty  with  the 
same  activity  as  formerly :  but  trusts  he  shall,  through  God's  assistance,  do  his 
utmost  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  to  God  and  the  Society." 

i  "In  the  year  1708,  Queen  Anne  sent  this  Church,  and  several  others  in  this 
province,  communion  table  cloths,  silver  chalices  and  salvers,  and  pulpit  cloths. 
The  members  of  the  Church  increased,  and  they  began  to  think  of  purchasing  a 
glebe  for  their  minister.  Dr.  Frampton,  then  Bishop  of  Gloucester,  dying  about 
this  time,  and  leaving  100/.  towards  propagating  the  Gospel  in  America,  at  the 
sole  direction  of  Dr.  Compton,  then  Bishop  of  London,  it  was  at  the  instance  of 
Dame  Katherine  Bovey,  of  Hackely  in  Gloucestershire,; who  had  been  a  benefac- 
tress before  to  this  Church,  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a  convenient  house,  and 
six  acres  of  land,  adjoining  to  the  Church  at  Burlington ;  and  about  the  year 
1710,  Mr.  Thomas  Leicester  gave,  by  his  last  will,  250  acres  of  land  to  this 
Church  for  ever." — Humphreys,  pp.  183-4.  [The  land  is  now  the  site  of  the 
Parsonage.] 


19 


this  eventful  series  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  years,  three  pastors 
filled  the  space  of  ninety;  the  last  of  whom,  that  humble,  holy  man, 
whose  mortal  part  reposes  just  below  this  pulpit,t  over  whose  new 
tomb  the  tears  of  a  whole  sorrowing  people  were  so  lately  shed, 
went  in  and  out  among  you,  day  by  day,  through  seven  and  thirty 
winters, — fulfilling  thus  God's  promise  to  his  own  loved  Sion,  "I 
will  deck  her  priests  with  health,  and  her  saints  shall  rejoice  and 
sing."  Ponder  these  things,  my  brethren :  and  then,  in  the  posses- 
sion and  enjoyment  of  this  holy  and  beautiful  house,  the  result  of 
so  much  watching  and  of  so  much  toil,  the  subject  of  so  many  tears 
and  prayers,  on  which  the  noblest  impulses  of  Christian  hearts  have 
been  so  long  and  freely  exercised,  and  which  owes  its  last  and  best 
improvement  to  the  munificent  bequestj  of  him,  into  whose  pious  la- 
bours I  have  entered, — then,  here,  to-day,  set  up  your  stone  of  help, 
and  say, with  holy  Samuel,  "  hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  us!" 
Then,  here,  to-day,  moved  by  these  mercies  of  our  God,  present  your^ 
selves,  your  souls  and  bodies,  a  living  sacrifice,  devoted  to  his  ser- 
vice. Then,  here  to-day,  profess  yourselves  in  name  not  only,  but 
in  deed  and  truth,  the  followers  of  the  crucified  Redeemer,  and  seek 
by  faith  in  him  that  cleansing  unction  of  his  blood,  which  can  alone 
remove  your  sins.  Then,  here,  to-day,  and  every  day  hereafter, 
make  it  your  single  effort  and  your  ceaseless  prayer,  so  to  be  faith- 


f  The  Rev.  Charles  Henry  Wharton,  D.  D.  was  interred,  on  the  25th  day  of  July 
1 832,  near  the  wall  of  the  Church, — ^in  what,  when  the  door  was  at  the  side,  was 
the  pathway  by  which  he  entered  it.  The  entrance  being  now  restored  to  its 
original  position,  and  vestry  rooms  erected  back  of  the  pulpit,  his  remains  rest 
beneath  them,  behind  the  chancel. 

+  By  the  last  will  of  Dr.  Wharton,  the  residue  of  liis  estate,  after  cer- 
tain provisions  should  be  executed,  was  bequeathed  to  St.  Mary's  Church, 
to  be  invested  as  a  fund  for  the  increase  of  the  salary  of  the  Rector.  By  an  ar- 
rangement with  the  Executor  and  Trustee,  the  sum  so  bequeathed  was  lent  to  the 
Vestry,  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expense  of  the  present  alteration  ;  the 
interest  being  secured  forever,  by  mortgage  of  the  property  of  the  Church,  to  the 
Rector  for  the  time  being. 


20 

ful  unto  death,  that  you  may  at  last  receive  and  wear  forever  in 
heaven  the  crown  of  everlasting  life. 

My  Christian  brethren,  if  the  six  score  years  and  ten  that  have 
passed  by  this  house  of  prayer,  had  each  a  tongue,  what  lessons 
would  they  teach  us  !  What  evidence  would  they  afford  of  the  un- 
certain tenure  of  all  earthly  things  !  And  with  what  eloquent  earn- 
estness would  they  commend  to  our  affections  those  better  things, 
laid  up  with  Christ  in  God,  which  being  like  him  invisible,  are  like 
him  eternal  also !  They  would  tell  us  of  the  joyous  throngs  who, 
week  by  week,  came  up  in  other  years  to  give  thanks  unto  the  name 
of  the  Lord ;  and  pointing  then  to  the  low  graves^in  which  those 
joyous  throngs  are  gathered  now,  they  would  tell  us  that  of  all  they 
ever  had  on  earth  their  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  alone  remains  to  them, 
in  unimpaired  and  ever  during  worth.  They  would  tell  us  of 
many  a  ransomed  sinner  admitted  here  into  the  blessed  family  of 
Christ,  listening  here  to  the  lively  oracles  of  sacred  truth,  and  cele- 
brating here,  as  you  to-day  have  celebrated,  the  praises  of  God 
and  of  the  Lamb,  now  gone  to  sleep  in  Jesus,  and  with  him  to 
rise  and  reign.  And  they  would  tell  us, — must  we  not  fear  that 
they  would  tell  us  ? — of  holy  resolutions  never  performed,  of  vows 
of  obedience  never  fulfilled,  of  duties  the  most  sacred  and  impera- 
tive time  after  time  postponed,  and  at  last  by  death  precluded  and 
cut  off  for  ever.  And  they  would  warn  us,  by  that  warning  of  all 
others  the  most  fearful,  the  expectation  of  the  final  judgment  day, 
to  do  now  what  our  hands  find  to  do  with  our  whole  might,  since 
there  is  neither  knowledge,  nor  device,  nor  work,  in  the  dark  grave 
to  which  we  hasten. — My  brethren,  the  disclosures  which  these 
tongueless  years  cannot  make  audible  to  us,  they  have  recorded  in 
the  book  of  God.  There  they  stand,  a  registry  of  guilt,  the  sen- 
tence written  under  them  of  God's  eternal  justice,  fearful  to  think 
of,  and  which  no  mortal  man  can  look  upon  and  live.  There  they 
stand,  black  with  the  presage  of  our  awful  doom,  and  if  the  blood 


•  SI 

of  Jesus  wash  them  not  away,  we  must  sink  down  without  a  hope 
of  rescue  from  the  stern  decree,  and  bear  the  inextinguishable  penal- 
ty of  everlasting  death.  Brethren  beloved,  let  it  not  be  so  !  Hear 
while  you  may  the  kind  beseeching  voice  with  which  the  Saviour 
calls  you  to  himself.  Accept  in  fervent  faith  the  overtures  of  that 
salvation  which  he  purchased  for  you  with  his  blood.  With  child- 
like and  confiding  love  yield  up  your  hearts  to  the  control  of  that 
divine  and  holy  Spirit,  which  is  freely  given  to  all  who  ask  it,  help- 
ing all  their  infirmities,  consoling  them  in  all  their  sorrows,  and 
sanctifying  their  whole  soul  and  body  and  spirit,  that  they  may  be 
blameless  in  the  day  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Come  to  him  to- 
day, who  for  so  many  years,  in  the  mercies  of  his  providence  and 
in  the  blessings  of  his  grace,  has  richly  come  to  you.  Here,  in  this 
holy  temple,  newly  consecrated  to  his  glory  who  made,  redeemed 
and  sanctified  you,  make  new  your  consecration  of  yourselves  to 
him  and  to  his  service ;  that  as  He  who  has  called  you  is  holy,  so 
may  you  also  be  holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation  and  godliness. 
He  will  accept  the  offering  through  the  interceding  love  of  Jesus 
Christ.  He  will  enable  you,  by  the  constraining  gentleness  of  the 
eternal  Spirit,  to  keep  and  do  the  holy  covenant  which  he  has  writ- 
ten in  your  hearts.  Here,  in  his  holy  house,  which  he  has  chosen 
for  himself  to  place  his  name  in,  he  will  hear  the  voice  of  all  your 
prayer ;  and  when  your  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  is  dissolved, 
you  shall  possess,  through  the  prevailing  merits  of  the  Saviour,  a 
house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.— ^Grant  it,  God 
of  our  salvation,  for  thy  mercies'  sake  in  Jesus  Christ.  Sustain  us 
safely  through  the  trials,  troubles,  and  temptations  of  the  world. 
And  when  our  service  here  is  done,  receive  us  to  thyself,  that  ga- 
thered all  together  and  united  all  with  thee,  we  may  be  thine 
throughout  eternal  ages  of  unmingled  joy !  We  ask  it  for  his  sake 
who  died  for  sinners,  and  to  Him,  with  the  Almighty  Father,  and 
eternal  Spirit,  shall  be  given  all  the  praise. 


AlfD  WILT  THOU,  0  ETERXAL  GOD, 
OJf  EARTH  ESTABLISH  THINE  ABODE  1 
THEN  LOOK  PROPITIOUS  FROM  THY  THRONE, 
AND  TAKE  THIS  TEMPLE  FOR  THINE  OWN. 

THESE  WALLS  WE  TO  THINE  HONOUR  RAISE 
LONG  MAY  THEY  ECHO  IN  THY  PRAISE  ; 
AND  THOU,  DESCENDING,  FILL  THE  PLACE 
WITH  THE  RICH  TOKENS  OF  THY  GRACE. 

HERE  MAY  THE  GREAT  REDEEMER  REIGN, 
WITH  ALL  THE  GRACES  OF  HIS  TRAIN; 
WHILE  POw'r  divine  HIS  W^ORD  ATTENDS, 
TO  CONQUER  FOES  AND  CHEER  HIS  FRIENDS, 

AND,  IN  THE  LAST  DECISIVE  DAY, 
WHEN  GOD  THE  NATIONS  SHALL  SURVEY, 
MAY  IT  BEFORE  THE  WORLD  APPEAR, 
THOUSANDS  WERE  BORN  FOR  GLORY  HERE. 


HISTORICAL  APPENDIX. 


My  tongue  shall  oracles  proclaim 
Which  ancient  times  have  known ; 

The  truths  which  our  forefathers'  care 
To  us  has  handed  down. 

We  will  not  hide  them  from  our  sons, 
Our  offspring  shall  be  taught 

The  praises  of  the  Lord,  whose  strength 
Has  works  of  wonder  wrought. 

That  generations  yet  to  come 
Should  to  their  unborn  heirs 

Religiously  transmit  the  same 
And  they  again  to  theirs, — 

To  teach  them  that  in  God  alone 

Their  hope  securely  stands ; 
That  they  should  ne'er  his  works  forget, 

But  keep  his  just  commands. 


The  collections  which  follow,  are  not  to  be  receired  as  in  any  sense  complete. 
They  are  but  gleanings,  hastily  gathered,  and  with  a  single  hand ;  but  they 
show  the  richness  of  the  field.  Let  it  be  regarded  as  a  consideration  of  addi- 
tional interest,  that  the  writer  of  them,  is  in  the  enjoyment,  as  Rector  of  St. 
Mary's  Church,  of  a  residence  provided  for  him,  as  to  the  site,  an  hundred  and 
tiventy-six  years  ago,  by  the  generosity  of  a  Bishop  of  Gloucester,  through  the 
friendly  interest  of  a  Bishop  of  London. 

St.  Mary's  Parsonage,  Christmas  eve,  1834. 


THE  CHURCH  OF  EWGLANIT, 
TO  WHICH  THE  PROTEST- 
ANT EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  IJT 
THESE  STATES  IS  INDEBTED, 
UNDER  GOD,  FOR  HER  FIRST 
rOUNDATION,  AND  A  LONG 
CONTINUANCE  OF  NURSING 
CARE        AND       PROTECTION. 


HISTORICAL    APPENDIX. 


FIRST  SETTLEMENT  AT  BURLIXGTON. 

**  Among  other  purchasers  of  the  West  Jersey  lands,"  says 
Smith,  in  his  History  of  New  Jersey,  "  were  two  companies,  one 
made  up  of  some  Friends  in  Yorkshire,  (as  hinted  in  the  conces- 
sions) the  other  of  some  Friends  in  London  ;  who  each  contracted 
for  considerable  shares,  for  which  they  had  patents.  In  1677,  com- 
missioners (agreeable  to  expectation  given)  were  sent  by  the  pro- 
prietors, with  power  to  buy  the  lands  of  the  natives  ;  to  inspect  the 
rights  of  such  as  claimed  property,  and  to  order  the  lands  laid  out ; 
and  in  general  to  administer  the  government,  pursuant  to  the  con- 
cessions. These  commissioners  were  Thomas  Olive,  Daniel  Wills, 
John  Kinsey,  John  Penford,  Joseph  Helmsley,  Robert  Stacy, 
Benjamin  Scott,  Richard  Guy  and  Thomas  Foulke.  They  came 
in  the  Kent,  Gregory  Marlow,  master,  being  the  second  ship  from 
London,  to  the  western  parts.  After  a  tedious  passage  they  arriv- 
ed at  New  Castle,  the  16th  of  the  6th  month,  O.  S.  King  Charles 
the  second,  in  his  barge,  pleasuring  on  the  Thames,  came  along 
side,  seeing  a  great  many  passengers,  and  informed  whence  they 
were  bound,  asked  if  they  were  all  Quakers,  and  gave  them  his 
blessing.  They  landed  their  passengers,  two  hundred  and  thirty 
in  number,  about  Rackoon  creek,  where  the  Swedes  had  some  scat- 
tering habitations ;  but  they  were  too  numerous  to  be  all  provided 
for  in  houses ;  some  were  obliged  to  lay  their  beds  and  furniture  in 
cow  stalls,  and  apartments  of  that  sort;  among  other  inconvenien- 
ces to  which  this  exposed  them,  the  snakes  were  now  plenty 
enough  to  be  frequently  seen  upon  the  hovels  under  which  they 
sheltered.  Most  of  the  passengers  in  this  ship  were  of  those  call- 
ed Quakers;  some  of  good  estates  in  England.     The  commission- 


28 

ers  had  before  left  them,  and  were  by  this  time  got  to  a  place  called 
Chygoe's  Island,*  (afterwards  Burlington,)  their  business  being  to 
treat  with  the  Indians  about  the  land  there,  and  to  regulate  the  set- 
tlements, having  not  only  the  proprietors  but  Governor  Andros's 
commission  for  that  purpose." — pp.  92,  3. 

The  two  parties  agreed  to  unite  in  settling  a  town.  "The 
commissioners  employed  Noble,  a  surveyor,  who  came  in  the 
first  ship,  to  divide  the  spot.  After  the  main  street  was  ascer- 
tained, he  divided  the  land  on  each  side  into  lots ;  the  easternmost 
among  the  Yorkshire  proprietors,  the  other  among  the  Londoners : 
to  begin  a  settlement,  ten  lots  of  nine  acres  each,  bounding  on  the 
west,  were  laid  out;  that  done,  some  passengers  from  Wickaco, 
chiefly  those  concerned  in  the  Yorkshire  tenth,  arrived  the  latter 
end  of  October.  The  London  commissioners  also  employed  Noble, 
to  divide  the  part  of  the  island  yet  unsurveyed,  between  the  ten 
London  proprietors,  in  the  manner  before  mentioned :  to  the  town 
thus  by  mutual  consent  laid  out,  the  commissioners  gave  the  name 
first  of  New-Beverly,  then  Bridlington,  but  soon  changed  it  to 
Burlington." — Smithy  pp.  98,  9. 

The  first  Ship  that  came  so  far  up  the  Delaware,  was  the  Shield, 
Captain  Towes,  from  Hull,  which  arrived  at  Burlington  in  October, 
1678.  "  Against  Coaquanock,t  being  a  bold  shore,  she  went  so  near 
in  turning,  that  part  of  the  tackling  struck  the  trees ;  some  on  board 
then  remarked  it  was  a  fine  spot  for  a  town.  A  fresh  gale  brought 
her  to  Burlington :  she  moor'd  to  a  tree,  and  the  next  morning  the 
people  came  ashore  on  the  ice,  so  hard  had  the  river  suddenly 
frozen." — Smith,  p.  108. 

Dr.  Humphreys,  writing  in  the  year  1728,  fifty  years  from  the 
arrival  of  the  Shield,  thus  describes  the  ancient  city:  "  Burlington 
is  situate  on  the  river  Delaware,  is  the  capital  town  of  that  division, 
called  West  Jersey,  containing  about  200  families ;  the  place  was 
honoured  with  the  Courts  being  kept  here,  the  houses  were  neatly 
built  of  brick,  and  the  market  well  supplied  with  provisions." — 
Historical  account,  p.  182. 


*  From  Chygoe,  an  Indian  sachem,  who  lived  there. 

■j-  The  Indian  name  of  the  place  where  Philadelphia  now  stands. 


29 

EARLY  AFFECTfOX  FOR  THE  CHURCH. 

*'  The  chief  inhabitants  of  Burlington  shewed  a  very  early  aflec- 
tion  for  the  Church  of  England  worship,  which  they  have  con- 
tinued down  to  the  present  time  inviolable.  In  1704,  tliey  wrote 
to  the  Society,  '  that  they  had  a  very  deep  sense  of  the  happiness 
of  having  religion  settled  among  them,  they  desired  to  adore  tlie 
goodness  of  God  for  moving  the  hearts  of  the  lords  spiritual  and 
temporal,  the  nobles  and  gentry,  to  enter  into  a  Society  for  propa- 
gating the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts,  the  benefit  of  which  they  had 
already  experienced,  and  hoped  further  to  enjoy.  They  had  joined 
in  subscription  to  build  a  Church,  which,  though  not  yet  near 
finished,  they  had  heard  several  sermons  in ;  but  they  were  not 
able  to  maintain  a  minister  without  the  assistance  of  the  Society, 
whereon  they  begged  God  to  shower  his  blessings  as  a  reward  for 
their  great  charity  and  care  for  the  good  of  souls.'  The  Vestry 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  same  effect  to  Bishop  Compton,  entreating  his 
lordship's  favour,  and  returning  their  humble  thanks  for  his  care  of 
them." — Humphreys,  pp.  55,  6. 

DESIGXATED  AS  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  EPISCOPAL  SEE. 

The  report  of  transactions  of  the  venerable  Society  for  propa- 
gating the  Gospel  in  Foreign  parts,  for  1710,  presents  the  little 
city  in  an  interesting  light.  "  It  having  been  frequently  represent- 
ed to  the  Society,  that  there  is  a  very  great  want  of  a  Bishop  to 
govern  those  missionaries,  whom  the  Society  has,  or  shall,  from 
time  to  time,  send  over  to  New  England,  New  York,  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  other  parts  of  the  continent  of  North  America,  as  well  as 
the  rest  of  the  clergy  in  those  and  the  adjacent  colonies;  and  to  or- 
dain others,  and  to  confirm  the  children  of  the  clergy  and  the  laity; 
this  matter  has  been  most  seriously  considered  of,  and  is  yet  de- 
pending before  the  Society ;  and  in  the  meantime,  and  till  they  can 
bring  it  to  bear,  they  are  looking  out  for  the  best  and  most  com- 
modious place,  as  near  the  centre  as  possible  of  the  abovemen- 
tioned  colonies,  to  fix  the  See  for  the  said  Bishop;  and  having  been 
informed,  that  at  Burlington  in  New  Jersey,  there  is  a  spacious 
and  very  convenient  house,  with  some  land  belonging  to  it,  (fit  for 
the  purpose)  to  be  disposed  of  upon  good  terms,  they  have  em- 


30 

powered  the  honourable  Colonel  Hunter,  her  majesty's  governor 
of  New  York  and  the  Jerseys,*  to  treat  with  the  owner  for  the  pur- 
chase thereof." 

In  1712,  there  is  the  following  report  of  progress  in  the  premises : 
*'  The  Society  did  little  else  this  year  in  the  cause  of  the  Church 
abroad,  but  finish  the  contract  for  the  house  at  Burlington,t  men- 
tioned in  the  abstract  of  1711,  as  the  best  and  most  commodious 
place  for  fixing  one  of  the  Bishop's  sees ;  which  was  efl^ected  by 
agreement  between  John  Tatham,  gent.,  and  his  excellency  Robert 
Hunter,  Esq.;  the  former  having  made  over  the  fee  simple  for  ever 
to  the  Society,  on  the  valuable  consideration  of  six  hundred  pounds 
English  sterling,  or  nine  hundred  pounds  current  money  of  New 
York,  to  be  computed  eight  shillings  each  ounce,  at  the  expiration 
of  four  calendar  months,  after  the  date  thereof,  Feb.  26,  1711." 

The  first  project  for  an  episcopal  establishment  in  America,  pro- 
posed one  Bishop  for  the  continent,  and  one  for  all  the  Islands ; 
the  see  of  the  former  to  be  at  Burlington.  Subsequently  the  scheme 
was  enlarged, — proposing  two  for  the  Islands ;  at  Barbadoes,  and 
at  Jamaica :  and  two  for  the  continent ;  at  Burlington,  in^New  Jer- 
sey, and  Williamsburgh,  in  Virginia.  It  is  in  reference  to  this, 
that  we  find  the  following  notice  in  the  abstract  of  the  report  for 
1714:  *'  And  by  way  of  preparation  for  a  suffragan,  or  Bishop,  in 
one  of  the  sees  upon  the  continent  of  America,  the  Society  having 
thought  fit  to  purchase  a  seat  for  his  residence  some  while  since  at 
600/.  sterling  expense,  in  a  convenient  mansion-house  and  lands, 
situate  at  Burlington,  within  the  Jersies ;  they  have  proceeded  to 
expend  this  year,  for  repairs  of  damages  done  by  fire  and  otherwise, 
under  governor  Hunter's  inspection  and  menage,  226/.  7s.  56?." 

The  project  was  arrested  by  the  decease  of  Queen  Anne,  and, 
though  often  presented  and  strongly  urged,  was  never  accom- 
plished, during  the  colonial  dependence. 


*  There  having  been  originally  two  provinces,  East  and  West  Jersey,  the 
whole,  w^hen  united,  was  often  called  "  the  Jersies." 

•j-  Known  afterwards  as  Burlingtoit  House. 


31 

SUCCESSION  OF  RECTORS  OF  ST.  MARY'S  CHURCH. 

I. REV.  JOHN  TALBOT. 

[From  1702  to  1724.] 
Of  Mr.  Talbot  we  have  spoken  in  the  Sermon.  Humphreys 
says  of  him:  "Mr.  Talbot  continued  in  his  mission,  very  diligent, 
and  with  much  success ;  and  as  there  were  many  congregations  of 
people  in  that  country,  which  had  no  ministers  resident  among 
them,  he  spared  no  pains  in  going,  and  performing  all  the  ministe- 
rial offices  among  them.  He  was  a  very  zealous  and  industrious 
man.*  He  came  over  to  England,  about  the  year  1719,  and  re- 
turned afterwards  to  New  Jersey.  But  the  Society  received  ad- 
vices, that  he  had  fallen  into  an  open  disaffection  to  the  present 
happy  establishment,  and  had  neglected  to  use  the  prayers  in  the 
liturgy  for  the  King  and  royal  family;  upon  Avhich  he  was  imme- 
diately discharged  the  Society's  mission.  He  died  there  in  the 
year  1727."— pp.  184,  5. 

The  first  entries  in  the  Parish  Register,  "February  28,  Anno 
Domini  Jesu  Christi,  1702-3,"  are  by  him,  as  minister  of  "the 
Church  of  St  Ann's,  at  Burlington,"  (see  "memorandum"  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Odell,  at  p.  4  of  the  Sermon.)  At  the  head  of  one  of  the 
pages,  he  has  inscribed,  "  lausdeoapud  Americanos." — From  the 
references  to  him  in  the  Society's  reports  it  would  seem  that,  though 
industrious  and  active,  his  health  was  but  infirm.  In  1715,  it  is  re- 
corded that,  "Mr.  Talbot,  Minister  of  Burhngton,  has  supplied  the 
Church  at  New  Bristol,  as  well  as  his  own,  whilst  his  health  con- 
tinued ;  where,  by  his  preaching,  and  Mr.  Thorowgood  Moor's 
former  pains,  some  have  been  brought  to  believe,  and  have  been 
baptized,  they  and  their  children."  Andagain,  "the  Rev.  Mr.  Robert 
Walker  has  been  dispatched  to  Burlington,  for  tlie  care  of  tlial  [)lace 
in  Mr.  Talbot's  sickness,  and  as  his  successor  in  case  of  his  remo- 
val, with  the  provisional  charge  of  New  Bristol  and  Hopewell." 
Mr.  Talbot's  name  appears  for  the  last  time,  in  the  list  of  Mission- 
aries for  1723. 

In  the  list  for  1724  we  have  only  the  name  of  "Mr.  Ellis, 
Schoolmaster  at  Burlington."     He  is  mentioned  as  early  as  1710, 


See  the  testimonial  of  his  Wardens  and  Vestry,  p.  14  of  the  Sennon. 


32 

(our  series  of  reports  unfortunately  reaches  no  farther  back,)  as 
Schoolmaster;  when  forty  shillings  were  allowed  him  for  such 
books  as  might  enable  him  the  better  to  discharge  his  office.  And 
in  1719,  it  is  reported,  that,  "on  Tuesdays,  Thursdays  and  Satur- 
days in  every  week,  and  on  every  Sunday  in  the  Church,  he  con- 
stantly catechises  the  Children,  whose  parents  are  of  the  Church." 

II. REV.  JOHN  HOLBROOK, 

[From  1726  to  1727.] 
He  had  been  missionary  at  Salem,  New  Jersey,  and  returned  to 
that  station  again. 

III. REV.  HORWOOD. 

[From  1727  to  1730.] 
In  1729,  Mr.  Horwood  reports,  that  "his  congregation  is  very 
numerous,  great  numbers  of  the  adjacent  country  frequently  attend 
divine  service ;  many  of  which  have  been  lately  baptized.     About 
30  miles  off,  he  baptized  22  persons  in  one  day." 

IV. REV.  WEYMAN. 

[From  1730  to  1736.] 
In  1772,  Mr.  Weyman*  acquaints  the  Society,  "That  his  parish 
hath  been  lately  very  much  afflicted  with  the  small-pox,  which 
hindered  numbers  of  people  from  assembling  together  at  divine  ser- 
vice ;  but  that  now  the  contagion  is  abated,  the  Church  begins  to 
be  full,  and  abundance  of  country  people  come  frequently  to  divine 


*  In  the  Report  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vaughan,  minister  of  Elizabethtown,  for 
1737,  there  is  excellent  testimony  borne  to  Mr.  Wey man's  character  and 
services  He  writes,  "  that  he  embraced  an  opportunity  then  just  offered  of 
paying  his  duty  to  the  Society,  acquainting  them  that  Mr.  Weyman,  the  Soci- 
ety's missionary  at  Burhngton,  had  exchanged  this  iife  i'or  a  better,  the  day  be- 
fore, and  had  left  a  wife  and  six  children  in  very  low  circumstances  through  the 
poor  pittance  of  his  fortunes.  'J'hat  he  had  left  the  world  with  an  miiversal 
good  character,  and  was  a  true  and  faithful  labourer  in  God's  vineyard ;  and  he 
enclosed  a  letter  wrote  by  Mr.  Weyman,  October  5th,  1737."  Mr.  Weyman 
writes,  "that  he  himself  was  then  in  all  probability  going  out  of  life,  through  an 
atrophy,  consumption,  and  dropsy,  and  he  therefore  begged  leave  to  take  his 
last  farewell  of  the  venerable  Society,  with  his  sincere  thanks  for  all  their  favours 
and  good  offices,  and  with  his  most  hearty  prayers  to  God  Almighty  to  pour  his 
blessings  upon  them,  and  to  recompence  all  their  works  of  mercy  and  charity  at 
the  resurrection  of  the  just."  The  Society,  out  of  an  especial  regard  to  Mr.  Wey- 
man's  good  and  faithful  long  services,  gave  his  widow  and  children,  upon  their 
humble  petition,  a  gratuity  of  60/. 


33 

service ;  that  the  number  of  his  communicants  increases  ;  that 
within  the  compass  of  the  last  year,  he  hatli  baptized  90  children 
and  6  adults,  at  Burlington  and  elsewhere.  'I'hat  finding  the 
Church  at  Bristol  was  destitute  of  a  minister,  he  hath,  upon  the 
very  earnest  solicitations  of  the  people,  undertaken  to  serve  them 
the  first  Sunday  in  every  month,  and  hopes  to  do  it  without  great 
difficulty,  on  account  of  the  nearness  of  that  town  lo  Burlington." 

V. REV.  COLIN  CAMPBELL. 

[From  1737  to  1766.] 

Of  Mr.  Campbell  there  has  been  some  previous  notice,  Sermon 
and  Notes,  pp.  14,  15,  18. — In  his  report  for  1742,  he  writes,  that 
"at  a  place  called  Mount  Holly,*  about  eight  miles  from  Bur* 
lington,  the  people  have  built  an  handsome  Church,  and  given  it 
by  a  deed  of  gift,  to  the  Society  and  three  other  trustees,  of  whom 
the  missionary  at  Burlington  is  to  be  always  one."  He  also  re- 
cords the  liberality  of  "the  worthy  Peter  Baynton,  in  roofing  and 
shingling  St.  Mary's  Church,  at  his  own  expense." 

In  1752,  he  reports  that  Mr.  Paul  Watkinson,  who  had  been 
clerk  of  St.  Mary's  Church  from  the  year  1707,  {forty-five  years) 
died  lately  much  lamented,  and  had  left  his  house  with  a  lot  of  land, 
worth  an  hundred  pounds  sterling,  after  the  death  of  his  widow, 
to  the  repairs  of  that  Church  for  ever. 

In  1759,  he  writes,  that  "he  goes  on  with  cheerfulness  and  dili- 
gence in  performing  the  duties  of  his  several  churches  at  Burling- 
ton, Mount  Holly  and  Bristol,  not  only  by  reading  the  public  ser- 
vice and  preaching,  but  also  by  publicly  catechising  the  youth,  and 
grounding  them  in  the  principles  of  our  holy  faith;  and  he  hath 
the  satisfaction  to  find  that  his  labour  is  not  in  vain." — A  good 
example,  from  which,  when  faithfully  followed,  God  will  not  with- 
hold his  blessing. 


*  In  1763,  he  states  that  this  congregation,  which  at  his  first  coming  consisted 
of  but  four  families  of  the  Church  of  England,  is  so  increased  by  the  divine 
blessing  on  his  endeavour,  that  they  think  of  applying  to  be  made  a  separate 
mission.  In  1764,  they  bound  themselves  to  the  Society  to  pay  a  missionary 
£30  sterling.  In  that  year,  he  baptized  96  infants  and  19  adults,  six  of  the  lat- 
ter being  of  one  family, — the  mother,  two  sons,  and  three  daughters.  In  the 
next  year,  he  baptized  116  infants  and  7  adults. 

5 


34 

VI. REV.  JONATHAN  ODELL. 

[From  1767  to  1776.] 

Mr.  Odell's  first  communication  to  the  Society  urged  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  missionary  at  Gloucester,*  there  being  none  in  New 
Jersey,  south  of  Burlington;  and  another  at  Trenton,  "  there  being 
no  Episcopal  Church  on  the  great  road  between  Burlington  and 
Brunswick,  a  distance  of  more  than  40  miles." 

Of  the  extension  of  the  Church,  during  his  ministry,  and  of  his 
prudent  and  disinterested  husbandry  of  the  resources  of  the  Church, 
notice  has  been  taken  in  the  Sermon  and  Notes,  pp.  15,  16. 

In  the  year  1775,  we  find  the  following  encouraging  report  of 
the  state  of  the  Church  in  New  Jersey: — "  The  state  of  the  Church 
in  New  Jersey  is  of  late  become  a  very  respectable  one,  through 
the  charitable  interposition  of  the  Society.  The  Missionaries  are 
all  unblameable  in  their  conduct,  and  some  of  them  eminently  use- 
ful. Instead  of  the  small  buildings,  out  of  repair,  in  which  the 
congregations  used  to  assemble  twenty  years  ago,  they  have  now 
several  that  make  a  handsome  appearance,  both  for  size  and  decent 
ornament,  particularly  at  Burlington,  Shrewsbury,  New  Brunswick 
and  Newark;  and  all  the  rest  are  in  good  repair:  and  the  congre- 
gations in  general  appear  to  be  as  much  improved  as  the  churches 
they  assemble  in. 

"  The  Society  are  indebted  for  this  agreeable  intelligence  to  their 
very  excellent  missionary  Dr.  Chandler,  who  likewise  informs 
them,  that  instead  of  enlarging  the  old  Church  at  Elizabethtown, 
his  congregation  have  begun  to  build  a  new  one,  of  eighty-five  feet 
by  fifty;  the  foundation  of  which  was   laid  in  November  1773, 


*  The  Rev.  Mr.  Evans  was  a  shori  time  missionary  there.  He  officiated  oc- 
casionally at  Burlington,  during  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  Mr.  Campbell's 
death.  He  died  early,  but  seems  to  have  established,  by  his  zeal  and  fidelity, 
the  character  given  him  by  the  Society,  of  "  a  pious  promising  young  gentleman." 
He  traversed  the  shore  from  Egg  Harbour  to  Cape  May,  preaching  daily, — tvsrice 
in  "  dissenting  meeting  houses,  at  the  people's  request ;  and  made  iise  of  the 
Liturgy,  ivith  -which  they  appeared  much  pleasedP  His  mission  was  60  miles 
long  and  30  wide.  He  preached  "  as  often  as  he  could  in  any  parish  where  he 
was  likely  to  find  hearers ;  among  whom  were  many  Quakers  and  other  dissent- 
ers, with  whom  he  lived," — none  the  less,  for  his  constant  use  of  the  Liturgy, — 
"  in  great  cordiality." — A  sound  Churchman  this,  with  the  true  Missionar. 
spirit. 


35 

with  an  expectation  of  its  being  entirely  completed  before  the  en  J 
of  1774," 

The  progress  of  the  American  revolution  greatly  chanored  the 
aspect  of  alfairs.  In  1776  there  was  no  letter  but  from  Newark. 
In  1777,  Mr.  Odell  writes  from  New  York,  that  "  since  his  being 
driven  from  home,  he  hath  been  occasionally  employed  as  deputy 
chaplain  in  the  army,  which  hath  afforded  him  some  relief."  In 
1778,  it  is  said  there  have  been  no  particular  accounts.  And  finally, 
in  1779,  it  is  stated  that  there  has  been  a  total  cessation  of  public 
worship  in  the  provinces  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  and  al- 
most every  Missionary  driven  out.  After  this  date  we  lose  our 
venerable  guide,  as  the  Churches  lost  the  "  nursing  care  and 
protection"  which  she  had  so  long  and  generously  supplied.  For 
these  imperial  bounties  of  the  Church  of  England  to  her  children 
in  America,  may  God  be  mindful  of  her,  and  bless  her,  and  cause 
his  face  to  shine  upon  her !  May  he  be  as  a  wall  of  fire  unto  her, 
against  all  her  enemies  round  about !  May  peace  be  within  her 
walls,  and  plenteousness  within  her  palaces  !  May  her  righteous- 
ness go  forth  as  brightness,  and  her  salvation  as  a  light  that  burneth  ! 

VII. REV.  SAMUEL  ROE. 

[  From  1785  to  1786.] 
Of  the  period  intervening  between  1776  and  1784  we  have  little 
authentic  information,  the  latter  being  the  earliest  year  to  which  the 
Records  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  at  present  in  possession,  extend. 
The  earliest  entry  in  the  book  is  in  the  following  words: — "At  a 
meeting  of  the  congregation  of  St.  Mary's  Church  at  Burlington, 
on  Monday,  the  18th  of  October,  1784,  Mr.  Samuel  Roe  having 
obtained  a  license  from  the  clergy  and  laity  lately  met  in  Conven- 
tion at  the  city  of  New  York,  to  be  a  Reader  in  any  Church  that 
should  give  him  a  call  for  the  purpose ;  and  whereas  the  Church  at 
Burlinofton  hath  been  for  a  lono^  time  witliout  a  minister  to  officiate 
therein,  it  was  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  congregation  to  invite 
the  said  Samuel  Roe  to  be  the  Reader  of  this  Church,  ^which 
was  accordingly  done." — In  1785,  (August,  or  thereabout,)  Mr. 
Roe  received  orders.  In  1786,  a  difiiculty  having  arisen  between 
him  and  the  people,  the  connexion  between  them  was  dissolved. 


36 

VIII REV.  SAMUEL  SPRAGGS. 

[From  1786  to  1778.] 
On  the  4th  day  of  September,  1786,  St.  Mary's  Church  being 
vacant,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  treat  with  the  wardens  of  St. 
Andrew's  Church,  Mount  Holly,  with  a  view  to  obtaining  the  ser- 
vices of  their  minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Spraggs,  until  they  could  "  sup- 
ply themselves  with  a  gospel  minister."  The  result  was  an  ar- 
rangement, that  Mr.  Spraggs  should  preach  in  Burlington,  one- 
fourth  part  of  the  time,  which  appears  to  have  continued  till  some 
time  in  1788. 

IX. REV.  JOHN  WADE. 

[1788.] 
Towards  the  close  of  1787,  the  vestry  agreed  to  recommend  Mr. 
John  Wade  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  White,  for  orders,  provided  the 
congregation  at  Mount  Holly  join  with  them  in  said  recommenda- 
tion. And  at  the  Easter  meeting  in  1788,  the  Rev.  John  Wade 
appears  as  minister.  At  the  same  meeting,  however,  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  White,  and  as- 
certain whether  it  will  be  in  his  power  to  recommend  "  a  faithful 
servant  of  Jesus  Christ,"  as  minister  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  in  Bur- 
lington; and  also  to  confer  with  the  vestry  of  St.  Andrew's  Church, 
Mount  Holly,  with  a  view  to  obtaining  the  services  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Spraggs,  until  a  minister  can  be  procured. 

X. REV.  LEVI  HEATH, 

[From  1788  to  1792.] 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Heath  was  settled  as  minister,  April  13,  1789, 
having  ofRciated  for  some  months  previous.  From  August  1790, 
to  October  1792,  the  question  whether  Mr.  Heath  should  continue 
their  minister,  continued  to  be  matter  of  controversy  between  him 
and  the  vestry.  He  finally  proposed  terms  of  separation,  to  which 
they  acceded. 

XI. REV.  HENRY  VANDYKE. 

[  From  1793  to  1796.] 

Mr.  Vandyke  was  elected,  July  1,  1793,  and  resigned  the  Rec- 
torship, August  10,  1796. 


37 

XII. REV.  CHARLES  IIEXRY  WHARTON,  D.  D. 

[From  1796  to  1833] 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Wharton  was  unanimously  elected  to  the  Rector- 
ship, Sept.  5.  1796.  He  continued  to  perform  its  duties  for  nearly 
thirty-seven  years,  confided  in,  beloved,  and  honoured  by  all  who 
knew  him.  Of  his  talents,  his  learning,  his  virtues,  and  his  services, 
(fully  recognized  in  the  Sermon  and  Notes  pp.  16, 19)  occasion  was 
taken,  by  the  present  writer,  to  speak  at  length  in  the  funeral  Ser- 
mon,* delivered  by  him  in  St.  Mary's,  Church  on  Sunday,  August 
4,  1833  ;  and  since  re-printed,  as  part  of  the  memoir  of  Dr.  Wharton, 
prefixed  to  his  Remains.  Of  that  last  proof  t  of  his  long  cherished 
love  for  the  house  of  God,  in  which  the  labours  of  so  large  a  portion 
of  his  life  were  exercised,  the  Church  itself  so  much  increased  in 
size,  in  beauty,  and  in  comfort,  will  be  the  best  and  most  enduring 
memorial:  so  that  of  him,  as  of  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  it  may  be 
said,  with  equal  propriety,  though  in  a  better  sense,  "  si  qu^ris 

MONUMENTUM,    CIRCUMSPICE." 

XIII. RT.  REV.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  DOANE,  D.  D. 

[  Unanimously  elected  Rector,  August  3,  1833.] 

The  convention  of  the  diocese  of  New  Jersey,  at  the  last  session, 
IMay  29,  1834,  having  authorised  the  Bishop  "  to  employ  an  assist- 


*  It  is  a  gratifying  evidence  of  the  esteem  in  which  Dr.  Wharton  was  held  in 
Europe,  that  the  leading  reUgious  journals  of  Great  Britain  have  spoken  of  his 
Remains  with  distinguished  favour.  "  The  Christian  Guardian,  and  Church  of 
England  Magazine,"  thus  beautifully  introduces  the  "  Memoir  of  the  Rev.  Charles 
Henry  Wharton,  D.  D.,  late  Rector  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  Burlington,  New 
Jersey,  America."  "We  have  often  dwelt  in  delightful  contemplation  on  the 
coMMUxrox  OF  SAINTS  ;  on  that  holy  conformity  and  sympathy  which  exists 
between  true  believers  of  different  churches  and  countries ;  and  who,  though 
strangers  to  each  other  in  the  flesh,  have  only  to  be  brought  into  contact  to  feel 
a  oneness  of  spirit,  and  an  exact  comprehension  of  each  other's  views,  desires, 
and  apprehensions,  of  which  the  world  cannot  conceive.  These  ideas  have  been 
powerfully  suggested  to  our  minds  by  the  perusal  of  a  valuable  Sermon,  by  the 
Right  Reverend  G.  W.  Doane,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of  New  Jersey,  in 
which  he  describes  in  striking  terms,  the  character  and  services  of  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  Wharton ;  and  from  wliich  we  have  extracted  the  following  memoir." 

■j-  The  exact  amount  of  the  residue  of  Dr.  Wharton's  estate,  bequeathed  to  St. 
Mary's  Church,  in  trust,  for  increasing  the  Rector's  salary,  (see  note,  p.  14,)  is 
not  yet  ascertained.  It  will  probably  exceed  §3000.  He  also  gave  his  library 
to  the  Church  for  the  Rector's  use.     It  forms,  now,  part  of  the  Parish  Library. 


6d 

ant  minister,  to  reside  in  his  parish,  and  perform  parochial  duties, 
to  supply  his  pulpit  in  his  absence,  and  to  discharge  occasional 
missionary  services,"  "  his  support  to  be  chargeable  to  the  mission- 
ary fund  of  the  diocese,"  the  Rev.  Hewlett  R.  Peters,  is  now,  by 
the  appointment  of  the  Bishop,  assistant  to  the  Rector  of  St.  Ma- 
ry's Church. 

ARCHITECTURAL  DESCRIPTION  OF  ST.  MARY'S  CHURCH. 

[  From  the  Missionary.] 

This  Church,  as  it  stood  after  the  last  addition,  (having  been  in- 
creased in  size  three  times  before  the  present  alteration,)  was  in 
the  form  of  a  rectangular  parallelogram,  extending  east  and  west 
sixty-three  feet  three  inches,  and  north  and  south  thirty-three  feet 
four  inches  ;  having  at  the  east  end  a  chevet,  or  semi-circular  ter- 
mination, in  which  was  placed  the  chancel.  At  the  west  end  was 
the  choir,  over  which  (supported  by  large  square  pillars,  rising 
through  the  roof,)  was  fixed  the  belfry. — An  alteration  and  enlarge- 
ment having  been  decided  upon,  the  following  is  a  description  of 
the  Church,  as  it  will  be,  when  the  interior  and  exterior  decora- 
tions are  completed,  in  accordance  with  the  designsof  the  Architect, 
approved  by  the  Rector,  AVardens  and  Vestry. 

The  plan  of  the  Church  is  that  of  a  Latin  Cross,  the  head  being 
towards  the  south  east.  The  interior  dimensions  of  the  nave  and 
choir,  are  eighty  feet  six  inches,  by  thirty  feet;  and  of  the  transept, 
thirty  feet  by  fifty-nine  feet  six  inches.  The  whole  affords  sixty 
pews,  calculated  for  eight  persons  each.*  It  is  built  of  bricks,  and 
is  to  be  rough-cast,  in  imitation  of  free-stone  or  granite. 

The  south  east,  or  principle  facade  presents  (as  nearly  as  cir- 
cumstances would  permit,)  a  composition  in  accordance  with  the 
Grecian  style  of  architecture,  exhibiting  a  centre  building  and 
wings, — the  centre  having  a  pediment,  in  the  tympanum  of  which 
is  inserted  a  circular  window,  surrounded  by  an  Isthmian  wreath, 
composed  of  the  Lotus  leaf.     On  the  apex  of  the  pediment  is  in- 


*  The  former  number  was  thirty-four. 


39 

tended  to  be  fixed  an  acroterium,  bearing  an  enriched  Greek  Cross  ; 
behind  which,  and  on  a  square  stylobate,  rises  an  octagonal  bell 
tower, — the  apertures  of  which  are  tilled  in  with  lufTer  boarding, 
the  whole  surmounted  by  a  gilt  ball  and  vane.  The  design  of 
the  tower  is  derived  from  that  built  at  Athens  by  Andronicus  Cyr- 
rhistes,  commonly  called  the  Tower  of  the  Winds. 

The  door  or  entrance,  is  decorated  by  a  Doric  entablature  and 
anta?,  over  which  is  a  raised  tablet.  The  windows  are  finished, 
with  plain  architraves,  over  which  is  a  sunk  pannel.  The 
principal  entrance  into  the  Church  is  situated  at  the  south  west  side, 
(under  a  porch,)  on  the  inside  of  which  is  a  vestibule,  opening  into 
the  transept.  At  the  opposite  extremity,  and  on  the  wall  of  the 
chevet,  is  intended  to  be  placed  a  mural  monument,  to  the  memory 
of  the  late  Rev.  Charles  H.  Wharton,  D.  D.  who  was  for  thirty- 
seven  years  Rector  of  this  Church.  On  the  south  east  side,  occu- 
pying the  head  of  the  Cross,  is  placed  the  chancel  and  choir,  the 
architectural  decorations  of  which  are  arranged  from  approved  Gre- 
cian models.  The  pulpit  is  of  a  semi-octagonal  form.  Immedi- 
ately in  front  of  which,  and  attached  thereto,  stands  the  reading 
desk, — and  on  the  sides,  enclosing  the  stairs,  are  placed,  pannelled 
pedestals  upon  which  are  fixed  carved  scrolls.  On  each  side  of 
the  pulpit  are  large  tablets,  containing  the  Lord's  Prayer,  the  Apos- 
tles' Creed,  and  the  Ten  Commandments.  The  whole  is  enclosed 
by  an  enricded  railing  and  mahogany  capping.  Behind  the  chan- 
cel, and  under  the  choir,  is  situated  the  Rector's  robing  room,  the 
vestry  room,  and  the  parish  library. 

On  the  north  west  side  is  also  an  entrance  and  windows,  similar 
in  exterior  decoration  to  those  on  the  south  east  front,  and  having 
on  the  inside  a  vestibule  opening  into  the  nave  of  the  Church. 
Under  the  nave,  is  constructed  a  furnace,  for  supplying  the  Church 
with  heated  air. 

NOTICE  OF  THE  CONSECRATION. 

On  Tuesday,  December  23,  1834,  St.  Mary's  Church  was  con- 
secrated to  the  puplic  worship  of  Almighty  God,  by  the  Right  Rev- 
erend Bishop  Doane.  The  request  of  the  Vestry,  being  presented 
to  the  Bishop,  by  Christian  Larzelere,  Esq.,  Senior  Warden,  was 


40 

read  by  the  Rev.  Hewlett  R.  Peters,  assistant  to  the  Rector,  in  the 
following  terms : 

TO  THE  RT.  REV.  GEORGE  W.  DOANE,D.D.,  BISHOP 
OF  THE  DIOCESE  OF  NEAV  JERSEY  I 

The  memorial  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St.  Mary's  Church 
respectfully  sheweth,  that  the  house  in  which  their  fathers  wor- 
shipped, and  in  which  God's  name  has  been  honoured,  and  the  gos- 
pel of  his  Son  proclaimed,  for  one  hundred  and  thirty  years,  having 
been  erected  for  a  long  period  previous  to  the  establishment  of  the 
Episcopacy  in  the  United  States  of  America,  was  never  consecrated 
to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the  usages  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church;  and  having  now,  at  great  expense, 
extended,  repaired  and  improved,  and,  in  a  manner,  rebuilt  it,  for 
the  better  accommodation  of  the  congregation  worshipping  there, 
they  present  this  their  request  to  the  Right  Reverend  the  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese  of  New  Jersey,  desiring  him  at  his  earliest  conve- 
nience to  set  apart  and  consecrate  the  same  to  the  service  and  wor- 
ship of  Almighty  God,  according  to  the  order  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 
Signed,  by  order  of  the  Vestry, 

Wm.  M'M^trie,  )  ^^^j^„^_ 

Christian  Larzelere,  3 

Burlington,  7th  December,  1834. 

The  sentence  of  consecration  was  then  read  by  the  Rev.  George 
Y.  Morehouse,  Rector  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Mount  Holly,  and 
is  as  follows  : 

The  ancient  edifice  of  St.  Mary's  Church  in  the  city  of  Burling- 
ton, which  was  erected,  and  had  been  occupied,  eighty  years  before 
the  introduction  of  the  Episcopate  into  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica, having  never  received  consecration ;  and  the  Vestry  of  that 
parish,  acting  by  the  Wardens,  having  set  forth  in  their  memorial 
addressed  to  me,  that  it  has  lately  been  enlarged  and  much  im- 
proved, and  requested  me  to  consecrate  it  in  the  usual  form  ; 

Be  it  known  that  on  this  23d  day  of  December,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  1834,  with  the  rites  and  solemnities  prescribed,  I  have 
consecrated  and  set  apart  the  said  house  of  worship,  separating  it 
henceforth  from  all  unhallowed,  ordinary  and  common  uses,  and 
dedicating  it  to  the  service  of  Almighty  God,  for  reading  his  holy 
word,  for  celebrating  his  holy  sacraments,  for  offering  to  his  glori- 
ous majesty  the  sacrifices  of  prayer  and  thanksgiving,  for  blessing 
the  people  in  his  name,  and  for  the  performance  of  all  other  holy 
offices,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour,  and 


41 

according  to  the  rites   and  worship  of  the  Protestant   Episcopal 
Church,  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  at 
Burlington,  this  23d  day  of  December,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1834,  and  in  the  third  year  of  my  consecration. 

G.  W.  DoANK,  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese  of  New  Jersey. 

Morning  prayers  were  read  by  the  Rev.  Francis  H.  Cuming,  of 
the  diocese  of  New  York.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  the 
Bishop. 


O  GOD,  HOLT    GHOST,  SAXCTIFIEH  OF    THE  FAITHFUL, 
VISIT,  WE  PRAY  THEE,  THIS  COXGREGATIOX  WITH  THY  LOVE  AXU   FAVOUR  J 
E>'HGHTEX  THEIR  MIXDS  MORE  AXD   >I,ORE  WITH  THE  LIGHT 
OF  THE  EVERLASTING  GOSPEL; 
GRAFT  IN  THEIR  HEARTS    A  LOVE  OF  THE  TRUTJI  ; 
INCREASE  IN    THEM   TRUE  RELIGION; 
NOURISH    THEM     WITH    ALL    GOODNESS; 
AND  OF  THY  GREAT  :iERCY  KEEP  THEM  IN  THE  SAME, 
O   BLESSED  SPIRIT, 
WH03I  WITH  THE  FATHER  AND  THE  SON  TOGETHER 
WE   WORSHIP  AND  GLORIFY,  AS  ONE  GOD, 
WORLD   WITHOUT  END. 
AMEN. 


ST.  MARY'S  CHURCH,  BURLINGTON 
1834-5.  * 

RECTOR, 

THE  RT.  REV.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  DOANE,  D.  D. 

ASSISTANT  TO  THE  RECTOR, 

THE  REV.  HEWLETT  R.  PETERS. 

WARDENS, 

CHRISTIAN  LARZELERE,  WILLIAM  M'MURTRIE. 


VESTRYMEN, 

GEORGE  HANCOCK,  JACOB  SHEDAKER, 

ISAACrPERKINS,  JOHN  ACKERMAN, 

DANIEL  HANCOCK,  EDWARD  ROGERS, 

JAMES  H.  STERLING,  JOHN  MYERS, 

GEORGE  DEACON  Jr.  HENRY  KALE, 

JOHN  LARZELERE,  CHARLES  ELLIS. 


INSCRIPTION 

vnii  THE  MrnAL  MoxuMEXT,  IX  ST.  maut's  rnuucH. 


A  finished  scholar, 

an   elegant   writer, 

a  sound  divine, 

a  faithful  preacher  of  the  Cross  ; 

in   peace   and   meekness,  purity    and   charity, 

in  childlike  simplicity,  and  unafTccted  piety, 
a  daily  example  of  the  lessons  which  he  taught ; 

while  he  lived,  the  faithful  servant  of  this  Church, 
and,  at  his  death,  its  generous  benefactor : 

such  was  he 

whose  name  this  stone  commemorates, 

and  whose  virtues 

are  embalmed  in  the  affections  of  his  people. 


Behind  the  Chancel 
rests  the  mortal  part  of 

CHAULKS  UEXItT  WilARTOX,  i).  T>., 

who  died  July  23,  1833, 

aged  86  years ; 

during  37  of  which  he  was  Rector  of  this  Church. 


y 


■('9 

*.        \r\: 

iii 

1 

fl 

1 

i 

BLESSED  BK  THY  IVAJIE,  O  XOIII),  THAT 
IT  HATH  PLEASED  THEE  TO  PUT  IT  INTO 
*HE  HEARTS  OF  THT  SERVANTS,  TO  AP- 
PROPRIATE AND  DEVOTE  THIS  HOUSE  TO 
THY  HONOUR  AND  WORSHIP  ;  AND  GRANT 
THAT  ALL  WHO  SHALL  ENJOY  THE  RENE- 
FIT  OF  THIS  PIOUS  AVORK,  MAY  SHOW 
FORTH  THEIR  THANKFULNESS,  BY  MAK- 
ING A  RIGHT  USE  OF  IT,  TO  THE  GLO- 
RY OF  THY  BLESSED  NAME,  THROUGH 
JESUS     CHRIST     OUR     LORD.  AMEN. 


'i« 


m 


PHOTOMOUNT 

PAMPHLET  BINDER 

Manu/aclured  by 

GAYLORD  BROS.  loc. 

Syracut*,  N.  Y. 

Stockton,  Calil. 


BX5920  .B96S5  D6 

The  Lord,  the  helper  of  his  people  :  the 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00048  3570 


.1.-5S?''' 


^  -^t^ 


